Police ration sugar sold in Thakurgaon shops, it is learned

Sensational information is coming to the fore after the local people caught the incident of selling the ration sugar prescribed by the government for the Rangpur Metropolitan Police in the open market in Thakurgaon.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ration of Rangpur Metropolitan Police says that there is an opportunity to sell ration sugar. He did this to provide some good food including fish and meat for the policemen in the mess. However, the police commissioner says that there is no opportunity to sell ration sugar in the open market. Legal measures should be taken for such actions.

According to sources in the administration department of Thakurgaon Sugar Mills, 44 metric tons of sugar were sold from the mill at the rate of 125 taka per kg on Monday (February 23). Out of this, Rangpur Metropolitan Police took 15 metric tons, Rangpur Police Training Center 11 metric tons and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) took 6 metric tons. Apart from this, 12 metric tons are allocated for workers and the rest is shown in the reserved sector.

After getting the information from the locals, it was found that three vehicles weighing 5 metric tons came out of the warehouse of the mill on Monday afternoon. One of the trucks left for Rangpur, but the other two power tillers stopped in front of a shop named 'M/s TS Traders' next to the railway line at Road Bazar area near Mill Gate.

Secret sources claim that the store is the cashier of Thakurgaon Sugar Mills. Shamim Rahman. He bought 10 metric tons of police ration sugar at a lower price than the market price.

Locals get suspicious when they see truckloads of sugar in front of Mercas TS Traders. They see, all the police ration sugar. Then they asked to show the police allotment document (DO) to the shop owner. He failed to show it. Then the locals contacted Rangpur Metropolitan Police on mobile phones. They asked some officials to come to the spot.

Later, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Ration Officer (OC) and Mess Manager SI (Armed) Mominul Islam along with some members came to the spot. They said that the money obtained by selling ration sugar was used to buy fish and meat and other food items for about 300 members in the mess.

Ration officer (OC) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police said, “We have extracted 15 metric tons of sugar. Out of this 7 metric tons of sugar has been sold. Our mess manager gets about 3,800 to 3,900 kg sugar allocation every month. At present, about 6,000 kg of sugar is stocked in the mess, which will be adjusted (covered) in a few days. That's why that portion of sugar has been sold for the sake of managing the mess.”

In response to a question whether government sugar can be sold in the open market, he said, “There is precedent for government goods to be sold outside. We purchase through ration tenders. But this sugar was not purchased through tenders, and tenders are not required for sale. It has been sold from the share of the members in the mess. No outsider's allotted sugar has been sold here.”

Mess Manager SI (Armed) Mominul Islam said, “I arrange food for the force with the money obtained by selling the sugar allocated for the mess. DO is issued, we submit the cheque, then the sugar is withdrawn through the OC (Ration) sir. Since I manage the mess, I can decide to sell sugar as per requirement.”

He also said that with the money from the sale of sugar, I buy fish and meat and other food items for the force. Where a slightly higher price is available, it is natural to sell. Shop owner Md. Shamim Rahman took sugar. If it's convenient, keep it, if not, return it. Because in the end, I have to provide food for the force with the money from the sale of sugar.”

In this regard, the owner of Messrs. TS Traders and the cashier of the sugar mill. Shamim Rahman told reporters, “Not only the police, RAB, BGB and army members also sell their ration products. In that sequence, I bought the sugar allocated by the police. There was an agreement with them earlier, sugar was taken at the fixed price. If I did not buy, they could have sold it to other shops.”

He also said, “As the price of sugar in Thakurgaon sugar mill is relatively high, the concerned parties sell this sugar and buy sugar from other sources.”

However, Shamim Rahman said, “It is a matter of our mutual understanding. So that they do not suffer, we can also make some profit.”

When contacted Subhash Chandra Singh, Deputy Manager of Processing Department of Thakurgaon Sugar Mill, he said, “Today Rangpur Metropolitan Police has taken away 15 metric tons of sugar. Not only they, RAB and Rangpur Police Training Center have also taken away sugar. We have no say about where and what they will do with this sugar.”

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner. Majid Ali told reporters that there is no opportunity to sell ration sugar in the open market. If someone does such a thing, the matter will be investigated. Strict action will be taken if the truth is found.